Improved device for boring and excavating coal



A. BUCHANAN. DEVICE FOR BORING AND EXGAVATING GOAL.

No 48,258. Patented June 20; 1865.

NITED STATE-s 'ANDREW BUCHANAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PATENT ()FEICE.

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR.BORINGAND'EXCAVATING GOAL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,258, dated June 20, 1865; antcdated June 15, 1865, i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, ANDREW BUCHANAN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Im proved Machine for Excavating Coal, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,

I clear, and exact description thereof, which will parts.-

7 This invention consists in the employment or use of arevolmn g longitudinally-adjustable cutter-bar-in combination with a truck, to which a feed-motion is imparted by the same power which is applied to impart motion to the cutter-bar in such a manner that by the action of the cutters inserted in said cutterbar a narrow ditch of any desired length and of suitable depth can be cut in an embankment of coal, limestone, or other similar material, in a horizontal or inclined direction, and the labor of excavating coal or other material is considerably reduced. The cutters are arranged in sections, which are secured to the bar in spiral lines, so that the material to be excavated has a chance to clear itself, and the action of the cutters will not produce an inv jurious strain on the cutter-bar or other parts of the apparatus;

A represents a truck, which is supported by four (more or less) wheels, B B, that are secured to axles O G. The wheels are provided with flanges, and placed in such a position in relation to each other that they will run on a railroad-track, such as generally laid down in coal or other mines to carry off the material whichhas been dug away. The lower part of the truck-frame forms the bearin gs for the bar D, which carries the cutters E. Motion is imparted to said cutter-bar by a pinion, F,

which connects by suitable intermediate gear with the driving-shaft G, which receives inotion by hand orother suitable power.

In practice it will be desirable to place on the platform of the truck A a small air, steam,

or water engine to impart motion to the cutter bar.

A pulley, a, mounted on the intermediate shaft, 11, connects by a belt or chain, c, with-a pulley, d, mounted on the axle G of the truck, and the speed of the intermediate shaft and the proportion of the pulleys a dis such that a slow forward motion is imparted to the truck, while the motion of [the cutter-bar is as rapid as circumstances will permit. The connection it by a suitable key, f. By removing this key the cutter-bar can be adjusted in a longitude nal direction, according to the depth of the ditch to be out. If the wheels of the truck move on a horizontal plane,the ditch produced by the action of the cutters will also be horizontal; but if it is desired to cut a ditch inaa inclined direction, either 'the wheels next to the embankment or those on the opposite side of the truck-are raised, according to the upward or downward inclination desired. To effect this purpose the boxes of the axles G G are made adjustable by means of screws h h, or instead of these screws other means might be employed, though the screws are the simplest and most effective.

The cutters E are made in sections and .se-

cured in the cutter-bar in spiral rows, so that the coal or other material to be excavated has a chance to clear itself through the spaces be tween the cutters, and by placing said cutters in spiral rows the strain on the cutter-bar and other working parts of the apparatus is ma terially reduced. I

' The apparatus is of great convenience for excavating coal, limestone, chalk, soapstone, or other soft minerals, and by slightly chang- Q ing the mechanism-and the shape of the cuting truck A, constructed and operating subters it can also be used. for hard rocks or minstantially as set forth.

era-ls. It is operated with a comparatively 2. The use of sectional cutters E, in combismall expenditure of power, and by its use a nation with the revolving cutter-bar D and large amount of work can be performed withtruck A, constructed and. operating substanout danger of the operator-being crushed by tially as and for the pnrpose'described. the overhanging embankment. 1 ANDREW BUCHANAN I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pateut- Witnesses:

T1. The longitndinallyadjustable revolving M. M. LIVINGSTON, cnttenbar D, in combination with the self-feed- W. HAUFF. 

